Organic field-effect transistor and method of making same based on polymerizable self-assembled monolayers

ABSTRACT

An organic field-effect transistor and a method of making the same include a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of bifunctional molecules disposed between a pair of electrodes as a channel material. The pair of electrodes and the SAM of bifunctional molecules are formed above an insulating layer, in which each of the bifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end that covalently bonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionality at a second end that includes a conjugated bond. The SAM of bifunctional molecules may be polymerized SAM to form a conjugated polymer strand extending between the pair of electrodes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the polymerization of aself-assembled monolayer (SAM) that contains conjugated π bonds. Inparticular, the present invention relates to disposing bifunctionalmolecules on a substrate to form a SAM, where the bifunctional moleculesinclude an end-cap functionality, which is polymerized to form a SAMthat is interconnected through conjugated π orbitals to form a chargetransport pathway. More particularly, the present invention relates tothe fabrication of an organic field-effect transistor, in which thechannel material comprises a SAM, which forms an intramolecular chargetransport pathway across the channel of the organic field-effecttransistor by a conjugated polymer strand.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional organic field-effect transistors (O-FETs) are based on thinfilms of organic semiconductors that are deposited on a substratebetween two electrodes, i.e., a source and a drain, either by vacuumsublimation or deposition from a solution or a melt. These conventionalO-FETs require a large number of molecules to bridge the gap between thesource and the drain electrode. In these conventional O-FETs, conductionof the charges through the large number of molecules is facilitated bythe large intermolecular overlap between π-electron orbitals of nearestneighbor molecules.

However, even in the best case, where organic molecules are highlyaligned and such overlap is maximized, intermolecular charge transportbetween molecules is hindered by phonon scattering caused by molecularvibrations, which are substantial even at room temperature. Unless theorganic molecules of an O-FET are cooled to very low temperatures, wheremolecular vibrations are reduced significantly or practicallyeliminated, the charge mobility of organic semiconductors is limited tovalues on the order of 1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. In these conventional O-FETs, themobility of charges depends on the intermolecular π-electron overlapbetween adjacent organic molecules and the weak Van der Waals forcesacting between the molecules.

On the other hand, if charge transport occurs via π-electrons of aconjugated molecule, i.e., either a small organic molecule or a singlepolymer strand, then the charge transport is not restricted by theintermolecular charge transport mechanism described above. To makeintramolecular charge transport via π-electrons of a conjugated moleculeworkable for both very small, i.e., a few nanometers, and for large areaO-FETs, the length of the organic semiconductor molecule must be atleast equal to the length of the field-effect transistor channel. Sincemost organic molecules are short, i.e., about 1 to 5 nm in length,relative to the minimum field-effect transistor channel lengthachievable with existing photolithographic techniques, it is extremelydifficult to fabricate O-FETs, whose operation is based on anintramolecular charge transport mechanism, i.e., the transport ofcharges by the π-electrons of an organic molecule having conjugatedbonds.

Polymerization of SAMs, especially the synthesis of a polymer brush, isknown in the art. For example, the photopolymerization of acrylonitrileSAMs on the surface of a gold substrate to form a polymer brush hasrecently been described. Similarly, the polymerization of a SAMcontaining a styrene end group to form polystyrene brushes has also beendescribed. In these examples, a bifunctional molecule, including anend-cap functionality, is self-assembled on a substrate and the end-capfunctionality is polymerized through various means, such as,electrochemical, free radical, or photochemical polymerization. However,these resulting polymers do not contain any π-orbital conjugated bonds,which are necessary for the intramolecular transport of charges.

The polymerization of SAMs comprising pyrrole or thiophene end-capfunctionalities, where the end-cap functionalities are used asnucleation sites for the growth of conjugated polymers, is alsodescribed in the art. For example, the electrochemical polymerization ofpyrrole of a SAM with a pyrrole end-cap functionality, as a means ofepitaxial growth of poly(pyrrole) on the SAM's surface, has beendescribed. In these examples, the pyrrole end-cap functionalities of theSAM are used as nucleation sites for polymerization of external pyrrole.Although a conjugated polymer is the end result of this polymerization,this form of polymeric monolayer does not constitute an intramolecularcharge transport pathway, which is located parallel to the surface of asubstrate.

SAMs have been polymerized to form conjugated π-orbitals, wherebifunctional molecules, containing a chlorosilane functionality at oneend and a thiophene, a bithiophene, or a terthiophen end-capfunctionality on the other end, were self-assembled on a substrate andthen polymerized to form polythiophenes, comprising conjugated π-orbitalcharge transport pathways parallel to the surface of a substrate.However, although the formation of this polymeric SAM was demonstratedby UV-visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltametry, the charge transportproperties, e.g., charge mobility, of this polymeric SAM were notmeasured and no functional electronic device, in which the polymerformed an active element of an electronic device, was constructed.Moreover, no electronic device has been constructed in which chargetransport occurred by intramolecular charge transport pathways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing and other problems and disadvantages ofconventional techniques, an exemplary aspect of the present inventionrelates to the fabrication of O-FETs, where the length of thefield-effect transistor channel, which may range from about severalnanometers to a few micrometers, may be traversed via an intramolecularcharge transport mechanism of a conjugated molecule, formed by aself-assembled monolayer (SAM). Hence, the charge mobility through thefield-effect transistor channel is not hindered by, for example, phononscattering, disorder, grain boundaries, etc., and results in asubstantial increase in charge mobility of the field-effect transistorchannel's material.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention is the use of thesevarious bifunctional molecules, which may be self-assembled on differentsubstrates and then polymerized to form conjugated π-orbital chargetransport pathways, as active channel materials for the fabrication oforganic field-effect transistors, in which the charge transport occursintramolecularly through a conjugated molecular strand within thepolymerized SAM.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention is the fabrication ofa field-effect transistor including a SAM of bifunctional molecules onan insulating layer between a pair of electrodes, in which each of thebifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end, whichcovalently bonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionalityat a second end, which includes a conjugated bond. A charge transportpathway may then be formed by an intermolecular charge transportmechanism with overlapping π-orbitals in such a SAM.

In order to attain the above and other advantages and aspects, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein isa field-effect transistor that comprises a pair of electrodes, and a SAMof bifunctional molecules disposed between the pair of electrodes as achannel material.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thefield-effect transistor further comprises an insulating layer over whichthe pair of electrodes and the SAM of bifunctional molecules aredisposed, in which each of the bifunctional molecules comprises afunctionality at a first end, which covalently bonds to the insulatinglayer, and an end-cap functionality at a second end, which includes aconjugated bond.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the SAM ofbifunctional molecules comprises a polymerized SAM that includes aconjugated polymer strand extending between the pair of electrodes.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thefield-effect transistor further comprises a gate electrode thatelectrically connects to the SAM of bifunctional molecules through theinsulating layer.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepolymerized SAM comprises bifunctional molecules including a3-substituted, mono-, bi-, or ter-thiophene end-cap functionality, whichis polymerized to form the conjugated polymer strand.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepolymerized SAM comprises bifunctional molecules including an ethynylend-cap functionality or an ethynl end-cap functionality that is asubstituent of an alkyl, an aryl, or a heteroaryl moiety, or an ene-yneend-cap functionality, which is polymerized to form the conjugatedpolymer strand.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the SAMcomprises bifunctional molecules including a trichlorosilane, adialkylchlorosilane, a allyldialkylsilane, a trialkoxysilane, acarboxylic acid, a phosphonic acid, a hydroxamic acids, an amine, or ahydroxyl functionality, which covalently bond to the insulating layer.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thefield-effect transistor further comprises a substrate over which theinsulating layer is formed, the substrate comprising at least one ofglass, polycarbonate, polyester, polyimide, quartz, undoped silicon, anddoped silicon.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gateelectrode comprises at least one of chromium, titanium, copper,aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, gold, platinum, palladium,polysilicon, doped polyaniline, doped polythiophene, and dopedpolypyrrole, and substituted analogues of doped polyanaline, dopedpolythiophene, and doped polypyrrole.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulatinglayer comprises at least one of barium strontium titanate, bariumzirconate titanate, lead zirconate titanate, lead lanthanum titanate,strontium titanate, barium magnesium fluoride, tanatalum pentoxide,titanium dioxide, and yttrium trioxide.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulatinglayer comprises at least one of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, andzirconium oxide.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pair ofelectrodes comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode, thesource electrode and the drain electrode comprising at least one ofchromium, titanium, copper, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel,gold, palladium, platinum, polysilicon, conductive polyaniline,conductive polythiophene, and conductive polypyrrole.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pair ofelectrodes is disposed above and in electrical contact with the SAM ofbifunctional molecules.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method ofmaking a field-effect transistor comprises forming a SAM of bifunctionalmolecules, which acts as a channel material, between a pair ofelectrodes.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method ofmaking a field-effect transistor further comprises forming the pair ofelectrodes and the SAM of bifunctional molecules above an insulatinglayer, in which each of the bifunctional molecules comprises afunctionality at a first end, which covalently bonds to the insulatinglayer, and an end-cap functionality at a second end, which includes aconjugated bond.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method ofmaking a field-effect transistor further comprises polymerizing the SAMby polymerizing an end-cap functionality of the bifunctional moleculesto form a polymerized SAM that includes a conjugated polymer strandextending between the pair of electrodes. In another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the method of making a field-effecttransistor further comprises forming a gate electrode that electricallyconnects to the SAM through the insulating layer.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, forming theSAM of bifunctional molecules comprises immersing the insulating layerin a dilute solution of bifunctional molecules, so that, thebifunctional molecules covalently bond to the insulating layer by thefunctionality at the first end.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, polymerizingincludes at least one of heating, oxidation, electrochemicalpolymerization, photo-polymerization, free radical polymerization, andcatalysis.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an electronicdevice comprises a pair of electrodes, and a polymerized SAM ofbifunctional molecules, disposed between the pair of electrodes, thatacts as a channel.

Thus, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may fabricatefield-effect transistors, where the length of a field-effect transistorchannel, which may range from about several nanometers to about a fewmicrometers, may be traversed via an intramolecular charge transportmechanism of conjugated π-orbitals, formed by polymerization of a SAM ofbifunctional molecules. The present invention may use variousbifunctional molecules, which may be self-assembled on differentsubstrates and then polymerized to form the conjugated π-orbital chargetransport pathways, as active channel materials for the fabrication offield-effect transistors, in which the charge transport occursintramolecularly through a conjugated polymer strand within thepolymerized SAM.

Alternatively, another embodiment of the present invention may fabricatea field-effect transistor including a SAM of bifunctional molecules onan insulating layer between a pair of electrodes, in which each of thebifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end, whichcovalently bonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionalityat a second end, which includes a conjugated bond. A charge transportpathway would be formed by an intermolecular charge transport mechanismover overlapping π-orbitals in such a SAM.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments of the present invention with references to the figures inwhich:

FIG. 1A illustrates a field-effect transistor 100 including a depositionof a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of bifunctional molecules 140 on aninsulating layer 120 located between a pair of electrodes 130 in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a field-effect transistor 180 including a depositionof a SAM of bifunctional molecules 140 on an insulating layer 120, inwhich a pair of electrodes 130 are formed above the SAM of bifunctionalmolecules 140 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a field-effect transistor 200 that includes apolymerized SAM 210;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 of making thefield-effect transistor 100 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method 400 of making thefield-effect transistor 200 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention takes advantage of a self-assembly ofbifunctional molecules, each of the bifunctional molecules containing afunctionality at one end, which forms a covalent bond with a substratesurface, and an end-cap functionality at the other end, which maypolymerize with the end-cap functionality of adjacent bifunctionalmolecules to form a polymerized, self-assembled, continuous, conjugated,charge pathway in the monolayer. In particular, the bifunctionalmolecules of the present invention may be self-assembled on a substratelocated between the source and drain electrodes of an organicfield-effect transistor, where the self-assembled monolayer (SAM)provides a highly conductive pathway that uses an intramolecular chargetransport mechanism between the source and drain electrodes of afield-effect transistor.

Alternatively, the present invention may fabricate a field-effecttransistor including a SAM of bifunctional molecules on an insulatinglayer between a pair of electrodes, in which each of the bifunctionalmolecules comprises a functionality at a first end, which covalentlybonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionality at a secondend, which includes a conjugated bond. A charge transport pathway wouldbe formed by an intermolecular charge transport mechanism withoverlapping π-orbitals in such a SAM.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an insulating layer 120 may be formed on asubstrate 110. In various exemplary embodiments, the substrate 110 maycomprise at least one of glass, quartz, undoped silicon, doped silicon,plastics, such as, polycarbonate, polyester, and polyimide, and othersubstrate materials well known in the art. In various exemplaryembodiments, the insulating layer 120 may comprise an oxide, forexample, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, combinationsthereof, and other insulating oxides well known in the art, or bariumstrontium titanate, barium zirconate titanate, lead zirconate titanate,lead lanthanum titanate, strontium titanate, barium magnesium fluoride,tantalum peroxide, titanium dioxide, yttrium trioxide, and combinationsthereof, or other insulating materials well known in the art.

The insulating layer 120 may be formed on the substrate 110 by processeswell known in the art, including, for example vacuum deposition, thermalgrowth, solution deposition or lamination.

In various exemplary embodiments, a pair of electrodes 130 may be formedon the insulating layer 120. The pair of electrodes 130 may correspondto a source electrode and a drain electrode of a field-effecttransistor. The pair of electrodes 130 may comprise various metals, forexample, chromium, titanium, copper, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten,nickel, gold, platinum, and palladium, or conductive polymers, forexample, polyaniline, polythiophene, and polypyrrole, and combinationsof these metals or conductive materials. The pair of electrodes 130 mayhave a thickness of about 20 nm to about 100 nm.

The pair of electrodes 130 may be formed by various depositionprocesses, for example, evaporation, shadow mask evaporation,sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, spin coating,electroless plating, inkjet printing, screen printing, and otherdeposition processes well known in the art.

In various exemplary embodiments, a gate electrode 150 of thefield-effect transistor 100 may be formed on the substrate 110. The gateelectrode 150 may comprise various metals, for example, chromium,titanium, copper, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, gold,platinum, and palladium, or conductive polymers, for example, dopedpolyaniline, polythiophene, and polypyrrole, and substituted analoguesof polyanaline, polythiophene, and polypyrole, or conductivepolysilicon, and combinations of these metals or conductive materials.The gate electrode 150 may have a thickness of about 30 nm to about 500nm.

The gate electrode 150 may be formed by various deposition processes,for example, evaporation, shadow mask evaporation, sputtering, chemicalvapor deposition, electrodeposition, spin coating, electroless plating,and other deposition processes well known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a SAM of bifunctional molecules 140, which mayinclude a functionality at one end that forms a covalent bond with asurface of a material and an end-cap functionality at the other end thatmay polymerize with end-cap functionalities of adjacent bifunctionalmolecules 140, may be deposited on a surface of a substrate by immersionin a dilute solution. Excess bifunctional molecules 140 that are notbound to the surface may be rinsed away.

In various exemplary embodiments, one of the functionalities of thebifunctional molecules 140, which may bond covalently to a substratesurface, may comprise, for example, a trichloro or trialkoxy silane, achlorodialkylsilane, a dialkylchlorosilane, an allyldialkylsilane, acarboxylic acid, a hydroxamic acid, a phosphonic acid, a hydroxyl, or anamino group.

In various exemplary embodiments, an end-cap functionality, which may bepolymerized to form a SAM, may comprise, for example, a 3-substitutedmono-, bi-, or ter-thiophene functionality, an ethynl functionality, anethynl functionality that is a substituent on an alkyl, aryl, orheteroaryl moiety, an isonitrile-substituted aryl, or a conjugatedene-yne functionality.

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary embodiment of a field-effect transistor 100that includes a SAM of bifunctional molecules 140 formed on aninsulating layer 120 between a pair of electrodes 130, in which each ofthe bifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end,which covalently bonds to the insulating layer 120, and an end-capfunctionality at a second end, which includes a conjugated bond. Acharge transport pathway would be formed between the pair of electrodes130 by an intermolecular charge transport mechanism with overlappingπ-orbitals in such a SAM.

Alternatively, FIG. 1B shows an exemplary embodiment in which a pair ofelectrodes 130 may be formed on the SAM of bifunctional molecules 140,which are disposed on an insulating layer 120, to form a top contact forthe pair of electrodes 130 of the field-effect transistor 180. Such atop contact may be formed by various deposition processes, for example,evaporation, inkjet printing, screen printing, and other depositionprocesses well known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 2, the end-cap functionality of the bifunctionalmolecules 140 may be polymerized to link all or a series of the end-capfunctionalities into a polymerized SAM 210, which includes a continuous,conjugated polymer strand, i.e., an intramolecular charge transportpathway. The polymerized SAM 210 may extend between the pair ofelectrodes 230 as a conjugated polymer strand, which forms a channelbetween a source and a drain electrode 230 of a field-effect transistor200.

For example, a substrate, including an oxide layer, may be immersed in adilute solution of bifunctional molecules, where each bifunctionalmolecule includes a functionality of trichlorosilane, which maycovalently bond to the oxide layer, and an end-cap functionality of analkyl-ethynylthiophene, which may be polymerized. The bifunctionalmolecules may be polymerized by, for example, heating, oxidation,electrochemical polymerization, photopolymerization, free radicalpolymerization, or catalysis, to form a polymerized SAM 210 of aconjugated poly(thienylacetylene), which constitutes an active channelmaterial forming an intramolecular charge transport pathway. This activechannel material may be disposed between the pair of electrodes 130 onthe oxide layer to form a channel region of a field-effect transistor200.

Experimental results that provide examples of bifunctional molecules,which may be self-assembled and polymerized are shown below.

Example 1, above, illustrates a bifunctional molecule including afunctionality of a trichloro or trialkoxy silane that binds to asubstrate surface and an end-cap functionality of a 3-substitutedthiophene ring. In various exemplary embodiments, the bifunctionalmolecules may bond by one functionality of each bifunctional molecule toan oxide surface, for example, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide,zirconium oxide, and other oxides well known in the art, which underliesa channel region of a field-effect transistor. The end-cap functionalityof these bifunctional molecules may then be oxidized by, for example,chemical or electrochemical means, resulting in polymerization byformation of C—C bonds at the 2, 5 position of the thiophene ring. Theresult of this polymerization is the formation of an intramolecularcharge transport pathway through the conjugated bonds, which mayconstitute the channel region located between the source and drainelectrodes of a field-effect transistor

Example 2, above, illustrates a thermally induced polymerization of anend-cap functionality of isonitrile in a bifunctional molecule to form apolymerized SAM, which may be disposed on a substrate surface locatedbetween the source and drain electrodes of a field-effect transistor.This polymerized SAM includes an intramolecular charge transport pathwaythrough the conjugated bonds, which forms a highly conductive pathwayfrom one end to the other end of the polymerized SAM.

Example 3, above, illustrates a SAM of alkylphenylacetylene on an oxideinsulating layer that has been polymerized by dipping in a solution of acatalyst, for example, a Ziegler catalyst, to form polyphenylacetyleneat the surface of a polymerized SAM, which may form an intramolecularcharge transport pathway between source and drain electrodes of afield-effect transistor.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart, which describes an exemplary method 300of making a field-effect transistor according to the present invention.An exemplary embodiment of a method of making a field-effect transistormay comprise forming 310 a SAM of bifunctional molecules, which acts asa channel material, on an insulating layer, and forming 370 a gateelectrode that electrically connects to the SAM through an insulatinglayer. Thus, a charge transport pathway would be formed by anintermolecular charge transport mechanism through overlapping π-orbitalsin such a SAM. Alternatively, another exemplary embodiment of a methodof making a field-effect transistor may comprise forming a pair ofelectrodes above a SAM of bifunctional molecules above an insulatinglayer.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart, which describes an exemplary method 400of making a field-effect transistor, according to the present invention.An exemplary method of making a field-effect transistor may compriseforming 410 a SAM of bifunctional molecules, which act as a channelmaterial, between a pair of electrodes, polymerizing 450 an end-capfunctionality of the bifunctional molecules to form a polymerized SAMthat includes a conjugated polymer strand extending between a pair ofelectrodes, and forming 470 a gate electrode that electrically connectsto the polymerized SAM through the insulating layer.

While the invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

Further it is noted that Applicants' intent is to encompass equivalentsof all claim elements, even if amended later during prosecution.

Aspects of the present invention relate to the fabrication offield-effect transistors, where the length of the field-effecttransistor channel, which may range from about several nanometers toabout a micrometer, may be traversed via an intramolecular chargetransport mechanism of a conjugated molecule, formed by a polymerizedSAM.

Another aspect of the present invention is the use of variousbifunctional molecules that may form SAMs, which are polymerized to formconjugated π-orbital charge transport pathways, as active channelmaterials, for the making of an electronic device, in which chargetransport occurs intramolecularly through a conjugated polymer strandwithin the polymerized SAM.

Another aspect of the present invention may relate to the fabrication afield-effect transistor including a SAM of bifunctional molecules on aninsulating layer between a pair of electrodes, in which each of thebifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end, whichcovalently bonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionalityat a second end, which includes a conjugated bond. A charge transportpathway would be formed by an intermolecular charge transport mechanismover overlapping π-orbitals in such a SAM.

1. A field-effect transistor, comprising: a pair of electrodes; anorganic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of bifunctional moleculesdisposed between the pair of electrodes as a channel material; and aninsulating layer, wherein the SAM comprises bifunctional moleculescomprising at least one of a trichlorosilane, a dialkylchlorosilane, anallyldialkylsilane, a trialkoxysilane, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonicacid, a hydroxamic acids, an amine, and a hydroxyl functionality, whichcovalently bond to the insulating layer.
 2. The field-effect transistorof claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodes and the SAM of bifunctionalmolecules are disposed over said insulating layer, wherein each of thebifunctional molecules comprises a functionality at a first end, whichcovalently bonds to the insulating layer, and an end-cap functionalityat a second end, which includes a conjugated bond.
 3. The field-effecttransistor of claim 1, further comprising: a gate electrode thatelectrically connects to the SAM of bifunctional molecules through theinsulating layer.
 4. The field-effect transistor of the claim 1, whereinthe polymerized SAM comprises bifunctional molecules comprising at leastone of a 3-substituted, monothiophene end-cap functionality, a3-substituted, bithiophene end-cap functionality, and a 3-substituted,terthiophene end-cap, which is polymerized to form the conjugatedpolymer strand.
 5. A field-effect transistor, comprising: a pair ofelectrodes; and an organic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) ofbifunctional molecules disposed between the pair of electrodes as achannel material, wherein the SAM of bifunctional molecules comprises apolymerized SAM comprising a conjugated polymer strand extending betweenthe pair of electrodes, and wherein the polymerized SAM comprisesbifunctional molecules comprising at least one of an ethynyl end-capfunctionality, and an ethynl end-cap functionality that comprises asubstituent of an alkyl, an aryl, and a heteroaryl moiety, and anene-yne end-cap functionality, which is polymerized to form theconjugated polymer strand.
 6. The field-effect transistor of claim 2,further comprising a substrate over which the insulating layer isformed, the substrate comprising at least one of glass, polycarbonate,polyester, polyimide, quartz, undoped silicon, and doped silicon.
 7. Thefield-effect transistor of claim 3, wherein the gate electrode comprisesat least one of chromium, titanium, copper, aluminum, molybdenum,tungsten, nickel, gold, platinum, palladium, polysilicon, dopedpolyaniline, doped polythiophene, and doped polypyrrole, and substitutedanalogues of doped polyanaline, doped polythiophene, and dopedpolypyrrole.
 8. The field-effect transistor of claim 2, wherein theinsulating layer comprises at least one of barium strontium titanate,barium zirconate titanate, lead zirconate titanate, lead lanthanumtitanate, strontium titanate, barium magnesium fluoride, tanatalumpentoxide, titanium dioxide, and yttrium trioxide.
 9. The field-effecttransistor of claim 2, wherein the insulating layer comprises at leastone of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and zirconium oxide.
 10. Thefield-effect transistor of claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodescomprise a source electrode and a drain electrode, the source electrodeand the drain electrode comprising at least one of chromium, titanium,copper, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, gold, palladium,platinum, polysilicon, conductive polyaniline, conductive polythiophene,and conductive polypyrrole.
 11. The field-effect transistor of claim 1,wherein the pair of electrodes is disposed above and in electricalcontact with the SAM of bifunctional molecules.
 12. A charge transportpathway for an electronic device, comprises: a first terminal; and asecond terminal, wherein the charge transport pathway comprises apolymerized organic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of bifunctionalmolecules, disposed between a first terminal and a second terminal; andan insulating layer, wherein the SAM comprises bifunctional moleculescomprising at least one of a trichlorosilane, a dialkylchlorosilane, aallyldialkylsilane, a trialkoxysilane, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonicacid, a hydroxamic acids, an amine, and a hydroxyl functionality, whichcovalently bond to the insulating layer.
 13. The field-effect transistorof claim 1, wherein the SAM of bifunctional molecules comprises apolymerized SAM comprising a conjugated polymer strand extending betweenthe pair of electrodes.
 14. A field-effect transistor, comprising: apair of electrodes; and an organic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) ofbifunctional molecules disposed between the pair of electrodes as achannel material, wherein the SAM of bifunctional molecules comprises apolymerized SAM comprising a conjugated polymer strand extending betweenthe pair of electrodes, and p1 wherein the polymerized SAM comprisesbifunctional molecules comprising at least one of a 3-substituted,monothiophene end-cap functionality, a 3substituted, bithiophene end-capfunctionality, and a 3-substituted, terthiophene end-cap, which ispolymerized to form the conjugated polymer strand.
 15. The field-effecttransistor of the claim 14, wherein the polymerized SAM comprisesbifunctional molecules comprising a 3substituted, monothiophene end-capfunctionality.
 16. The field-effect transistor of the claim 14, whereinthe polymerized SAM comprises bifunctional molecules comprising a3substituted, bithiophene end-cap functionality.
 17. The field-effecttransistor of the claim 14, wherein the polymerized SAM comprisesbifunctional molecules comprising a 3substituted, terthiophene end-cap.18. The field-effect transistor according to claim 5, wherein thepolymerized SAM comprises bifunctional molecules comprising an ethynylend-cap functionality.
 19. The field-effect transistor according toclaim 5, wherein the polymerized SAM comprises bifunctional moleculescomprising an ethynl end-cap functionality that comprises a substituentof an alkyl, an aryl, and a heteroaryl moiety.
 20. The field-effecttransistor according to claim 5, wherein the polymerized SAM comprisesbifunctional molecules comprising an ene-yne end-cap functionality.